any aquarists here? I need some help...

[deranged chipmunk]

I have a 10 gallon tank, about 2 years old.
I will admit that I got the tank with very little knowledge of the biological filter, and how to maintain it.
I will also admit that I didn't get very good advice at the lfs, so unfortunatley have lost a couple fish along the way....

Up until recently I had 5 glowlight tetras (down to 4):
Hemigrammus erythrozonus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

3 zebra snails:
Neritina natalensis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1 albino pleco (about 4 inches long):
Albino Plecostomus colorful tropical fish pictures

1 japanese algae eating shrimp:
Petshrimp.com -- All about shrimp

3 Amazon Sword tail plants:
Aquatic Plants for Freshwater Aquariums: Amazon Sword Aquarium Plant

I realize I'm overstocked (now), and never realized how large the pleco would get ! He was a little one of about 1.5 inches when I got him...

So here comes my question:
One of the glowlight tetras died last week, I replace it with another which died one day later. I haven't replaced it yet, do I need to? The local lfs said I need 5 tetras for them to feel safe and secure.
I tested my water:
Zero Ammonia, Zero Nitrites, and 40 ppm of Nitrate. I have done 25% water changes every day and still can't get my nitrates down.
PH is 8....

My other question:
My plants are dying! did really well for a couple years, but are now suddenly dying off... Any connection? I recently started adding CO2 to the tank (per the advice of lfs), should I fertilize as well?

I'm stuck on what I should do to proceed...
Any help or advice, etc. is very much welcome!

Oh, and here's a photo of the tank:


Here's a picture of the plants:


Also should add, I have an aqua clear filter, 10-20. And a bubbler
(as you can see in the pics)

Thanks guys!

ok, so, as far as the tetras go, they would feel more safe and secure that larger the school is. i always keeps schools of 6 or more. do they absolutely need to be in a school? no. plenty of people keep them in pairs and singly and those fish live a nice, happy, healthy life with no problems.

as far as the pleco goes, you can always re-home him and pic up a bristlenose pleco. they only grow to about 4' or so. or some otocinclus cats. they only grow to about 2". of course, you could also add a cory cat or two. all options for down the road, obviously.

as far as your nitrate issue, try rinsing out your media in some old tank water. or some dechlor water. that should get your nitrates down. not that they are really excessive for a planted tank.

now as far as the plants go. i need to ask a couple questions. do you fertilize the tank? how long have you had the airstone in there? what kind of co2 are you adding? and i hate to sound mean, but if those are the same plants that you have had for a year or so, they are just surviving, not thriving or doing ok. lol they should be HUGE. i have had amazon swords grow from 4 leaf plantlets to 2 foot tall 2 foot wide monsters within 2 months.....lol

[Bolisnide]

ok, so, as far as the tetras go, they would feel more safe and secure that larger the school is. i always keeps schools of 6 or more. do they absolutely need to be in a school? no. plenty of people keep them in pairs and singly and those fish live a nice, happy, healthy life with no problems.

as far as the pleco goes, you can always re-home him and pic up a bristlenose pleco. they only grow to about 4' or so. or some otocinclus cats. they only grow to about 2". of course, you could also add a cory cat or two. all options for down the road, obviously.

as far as your nitrate issue, try rinsing out your media in some old tank water. or some dechlor water. that should get your nitrates down. not that they are really excessive for a planted tank.

now as far as the plants go. i need to ask a couple questions. do you fertilize the tank? how long have you had the airstone in there? what kind of co2 are you adding? and i hate to sound mean, but if those are the same plants that you have had for a year or so, they are just surviving, not thriving or doing ok. lol they should be HUGE. i have had amazon swords grow from 4 leaf plantlets to 2 foot tall 2 foot wide monsters within 2 months.....lol

Ugh, you're so mean!
I do not fertilize the tank, would any of the plant fertilizers at the lfs suffice, or do reccomend a specific brand?
The airstone is about 4 months new.
The Co2 I bought and have been using for only about a week is API Co2 booster. I follow the directions, 1 ml per day per 10 gallons.
I feel so bad for those plants, yes, they are 2 years old! They were huge, but as the leaves have started dissentigrating, I've been pruning them off... now they're just these pathetic little things.
One thing that someone jsut mentioned, I also have never replaced my bulb, maybe that is part of the equation?

Who would take my pleco? I have no friends with tanks, and I kind of like him. I read he will max out at 4 inches. I believe he is an albino bristle nose? I could be wrong.

Thanks bill!

[deranged chipmunk]

Ugh, you're so mean!
I do not fertilize the tank, would any of the plant fertilizers at the lfs suffice, or do reccomend a specific brand?
The airstone is about 4 months new.
The Co2 I bought and have been using for only about a week is API Co2 booster. I follow the directions, 1 ml per day per 10 gallons.
I feel so bad for those plants, yes, they are 2 years old! They were huge, but as the leaves have started dissentigrating, I've been pruning them off... now they're just these pathetic little things.
One thing that someone jsut mentioned, I also have never replaced my bulb, maybe that is part of the equation?


Who would take my pleco? I have no friends with tanks, and I kind of like him. I read he will max out at 4 inches. I believe he is an albino bristle nose? I could be wrong.

Thanks bill!

for swords, since they are heavy root feeders, i would use root tabs. either the seachem or api versions work well. if you have access to empty gel caps (doesn't everyone? LOL) you can fill them with osmocote (available at most big box stores), in essence, making your own root tabs.

the problem with adding carbon AND an airstone is that you are just pouring money into your tank. the o2 you are adding from the airstone is negating the co2 you're adding. my recommendation? put the air pump on a timer and put it on at night only. since the plants don't utilize co2 at night, it will supplement the tank with o2 for the fishies. the bulb could be part of the equation, but i doubt it. they most likely started melting due to the death of the 2 fish and lack of fertilization. swords are very sensitive to ammonia swings, even if only temporarily. i change the bulbs in my planted tanks annually, but i know people who change them when they burn out.

as far as the pleco goes, you're good to go darlin'. i was under the impression that you had a standard pleco. abn's are perfect for small tanks. they are great little fish. and i'll let ya in on a little planted tank secret: the more plants you have in a tank, the more leeway you have with stocking. the plants serve as a bio filter and allow for a bit of overstocking. so your current stocking level is ok with the swords you have in there.

[Bolisnide]

for swords, since they are heavy root feeders, i would use root tabs. either the seachem or api versions work well. if you have access to empty gel caps (doesn't everyone? LOL) you can fill them with osmocote (available at most big box stores), in essence, making your own root tabs.

the problem with adding carbon AND an airstone is that you are just pouring money into your tank. the o2 you are adding from the airstone is negating the co2 you're adding. my recommendation? put the air pump on a timer and put it on at night only. since the plants don't utilize co2 at night, it will supplement the tank with o2 for the fishies. the bulb could be part of the equation, but i doubt it. they most likely started melting due to the death of the 2 fish and lack of fertilization. swords are very sensitive to ammonia swings, even if only temporarily. i change the bulbs in my planted tanks annually, but i know people who change them when they burn out.

as far as the pleco goes, you're good to go darlin'. i was under the impression that you had a standard pleco. abn's are perfect for small tanks. they are great little fish. and i'll let ya in on a little planted tank secret: the more plants you have in a tank, the more leeway you have with stocking. the plants serve as a bio filter and allow for a bit of overstocking. so your current stocking level is ok with the swords you have in there.

Ahh, I've just learned so much!!!!
Thank you so much for your time, bill!
I like the timer idea for the bubbler, so if I understand correctly, put the bubbler on at night so the fish get the o2, and turn it off at during the day so the plants get the co2?
I'll get some fertilizer, and no, I don't have access to empty gel caps? Maybe the vitamin store... but I think I'll just buy the root tbs you suggest, I'm not that handy!

I'll let you know how this progresses, thanks again!

[deranged chipmunk]

that is correct. co2-day 02-night. and you are very welcome oh, and don't forget to trim off those melted leaves

[Mentat]

Hi, just want to add couple simple thoughts. 1st thing is to buy new light bulb/s. If fluorescent tubes; they start losing lumens around six month mark and by 1 year many are producing 1/2 the lumens they did as new. Only light elements you do not replace are LEDs.

Second thing is your aquarium pH of 8. For tetras in general, a pH of 8 is a bit high. Do you know what was pH before starting to add the CO2? If adding CO2 raised the tank pH abruptly; it could explain the death of first Tetra. Also, if store had 2nd Tetra in neutral to acidic water; it probably died of pH shock when released into highly alkaline water. Sadly, Tetras don't handle abrupt pH changes well .

[Bolisnide]

Hi, just want to add couple simple thoughts. 1st thing is to buy new light bulb/s. If fluorescent tubes; they start losing lumens around six month mark and by 1 year many are producing 1/2 the lumens they did as new. Only light elements you do not replace are LEDs.

Second thing is your aquarium pH of 8. For tetras in general, a pH of 8 is a bit high. Do you know what was pH before starting to add the CO2? If adding CO2 raised the tank pH abruptly; it could explain the death of first Tetra. Also, if store had 2nd Tetra in neutral to acidic water; it probably died of pH shock when released into highly alkaline water. Sadly, Tetras don't handle abrupt pH changes well .

Yes! I think you may be right about the pH.
I posted this exact post on tropical fish forums, and that was their main concern...
My tap pH is 8.0. I can't figure outhow to lower the pH? I've tried several products.
The suggestion on tropical fish forums was to re-home the tetras and then get more alkaline, hard water tolerant fish...